Everything you need to know about how the CSM® exam is structured — questions, time, scoring, and exactly how the marks are distributed.
50 multiple-choice questions, open book, in 60 minutes — taken online after completing a CSM course from a Certified Scrum Trainer. Two attempts are included within 90 days of the course; the pass mark is 74% (37/50).
Scrum Alliance publishes how the 50 questions are distributed (Scrum Alliance CSM Learning Objectives (2022, formatted 2024) — no official weighting published; split estimated from learning-objective counts). Weight your preparation to match — this is the single most useful planning fact:
| Area | Weight | |
|---|---|---|
| Scrum events & activities | 36% | |
| Service to the Scrum Team, Product Owner, and Organization | 32% | |
| Scrum Team roles, accountabilities & theory | 21% | |
| Scrum Master core competencies | 11% |
Scrum events & activities is the heaviest at 36% — most candidates under-weight it.
6 free questions · explanation for every option · per-area readiness · no dumps.
Start free →Generally no — CSM follows a mandatory instructor-led course, includes two attempts and needs 74% (37/50), while PSM I is self-study with a single paid attempt at 85%. The course requirement is CSM's real gate.
Yes — a course taught by a Certified Scrum Trainer (16h in person / 14h live-online) is mandatory; the online test unlocks only afterwards.
Every two years: earn 20 SEUs through qualifying learning activities and pay a $100 renewal fee.
50 multiple-choice questions, open book, in 60 minutes — taken online after completing a CSM course from a Certified Scrum Trainer.
The passing score is 74% — 37 out of 50 questions. Aim for a consistent 80–85% on realistic practice exams before booking.
Scrum Alliance does not publish official pass rates, so any exact percentage quoted online is unverified. The readiness signal that actually predicts passing: consistently holding 80–85% on realistic, full-length practice exams before you book.
Completion of a CSM course from a Scrum Alliance Certified Scrum Trainer is required — 16 hours in person or 14 hours live-online. No self-study path exists.
The course (set by each trainer, commonly ~$250–1,500+ depending on region and format) includes the exam, two attempts and a 2-year Scrum Alliance membership. Additional retakes cost $25.
For most candidates, the 14–16-hour course itself; attentive participants typically pass right after it. What matters most is practising questions and analysing why each option is right or wrong — not just reading.
Every 2 years — 20 Scrum Education Units (SEUs) plus a $100 renewal fee.
No — every question is original, written to test the concepts and reviewed before it ships, with an explanation linked to the source for every option. Dumps are stale, often wrong, and against Scrum Alliance's policies.